A police officer has resigned after he started an “inappropriate relationship” with the victim of a domestic violence incident he was called out to, it emerged yesterday (Saturday).

Essex Police said the officer had quit while facing a gross misconduct charge.

His name has been added to a national register barring him from working for any other force.

The case is one of four cases highlighted as “significant” between April and June this year.

Lindsay Whitehouse, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Where misconduct or errors of judgement occur, there should be a fair but rigorous disciplinary process.

“It is important to note that, including police officers, PCSOs, police staff and special constables, almost 6,000 people work for Essex Police.

“There are hundreds of thousands of interactions between the public and the force, often in difficult circumstances, every year, and the vast majority of these are conducted with the highest professional standards.”

The other cases involve an officer who allegedly disclosed police information and a member of staff accused of accessing police information and harassing a former partner.

One other officer had “an inappropriate sexual relationship” while off-duty.